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Illinois Afternoon

Shortly before 11AM today, Rick checked into TS 37 at Effingham, IL: 2139 miles completed and 866 to go. With about 77 hours left to cover that distance, Rick needs to maintain an 11.2 MPH pace to officially finish. This certainly is still within Rick’s grasp. But on top of all the miles and neck pain, the heat and humidity are probably the highest Rick has seen since the start. Temperatures are in the 90’s and the dew point is a staggering 78F — that puts the heat index up around 106F. And for any exposed sections of the course, the on-road temperatures will be even hotter.

Update: NOAA Heat Advisory posted:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1157 AM CDT FRI JUN 18 2010
...HEAT INDEX VALUES OVER 100 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON...
ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-182130-
/O.NEW.KILX.HT.Y.0002.100618T1800Z-100619T0000Z/
CUMBERLAND-CLARK-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-CRAWFORD-CLAY-RICHLAND-LAWRENCE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...EFFINGHAM...FLORA...LAWRENCEVILLE
1157 AM CDT FRI JUN 18 2010
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A HEAT
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.
* TEMPERATURE...HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOWER 90S...WITH
HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGING FROM 100 TO 105 DEGREES INTO EARLY
EVENING.
* IMPACTS...HEAT EXHAUSTION CAN OCCUR QUICKLY IF PROPER
PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE.
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY
OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

The Spot Tracker data is showing Rick battling on in these horrendous conditions. But not surprisingly, progress has been slow as Rick heads to TS 38 in Sullivan, IN. To stay on track, Rick would need to arrive before 6 PM EDT, but his current pace has him arriving after that. There’s a 20% chance of thundershowers in the forecast — those would be a welcome relief right about now!

-Tom RosenbauerEastern PA RBAp.s. Several of the previous posts have been updated … as you check out anything you may have missed, be sure to look at the very nice comments that followers have been leaving!

Rick, you’ve dealt with this kind of weather and heat before. I know you’re tired but you’re strong. Make your own wind buddy and ride! Support crew, you’re just awesome. Keep him going. I always used to blow on my mom when she had hot flashes, maybe that would work!